Burkina Faso has banned the export of donkeys, ending a massive surge in sales of meat and skins to Asia, an official said Tuesday.

The government adopted a decree on August 3 "regulating the slaughter and banning exports" of donkeys as well as horses and camels, said Adama Maiga, director for public veterinary health.

All slaughter will have to be done in "officially recognised" abattoirs, Maiga told AFP, adding that the legislation is designed to keep the donkey population at a sustainable level following the boom in international sales.

Donkey meat is popular amongst some communities in Burkina Faso, but exports of the animal's meat and hides have soared in recent years, mostly to China.

Exports of hides rose from 1,000 in the first quarter of 2015 to more than 18,000 by the last quarter, Maiga said.

He added that the nation's reserve of an estimated 1.4 million donkeys -- used by many farmers for transport in one of the world's poorest countries -- was being "over-exploited".

While the roaring trade has brought wealth to some as prices for donkeys have soared, it has also brought controversy to Burkina Faso.

Last month residents of the village of Balole, on the outskirts of the capital, ransacked an abattoir set up by a French and Chinese consortium in protest at the stench it was producing, as well as air, land and water pollution.